Financial Aid Policies at Reinhardt University

Beginning 2017-2018, all eligible students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Current students - FAFSA deadline is April 1

New students - FAFSA deadline is July 1

50% Institutional Aid Rule

Students receiving 50% or more of their tuition expenses from Reinhardt Institutional Aid are required to reside on campus. To be exempt from living on campus, students must meet one of the following criteria:

Living with parents (verification required)

Married or living with children (verification required)

24 years of age or older (verification required)

Communication/Email policy

Each student is issued a University ID and email account for use throughout the time registered for classes. Email is an available tool for official communication between the University (faculty/staff) and students. All University business must be conducted with Reinhardt University email. Changes and requests will not be made from private/personal email accounts.

The University-assigned student email account is the official means of communication with all registered students. The University reserves the right to send University business communications to students with full expectation that students will receive and read emails in a timely manner.

Students are expected to check their University email account frequently in order to stay current with University business and notifications. Students must ensure that there is sufficient space to allow for email delivery.

Faculty and staff will assume that a student’s University email is a valid mode for communicating with a student. Students who choose to forward their University email to a private/personal email address outside the University-issued email may do so at their own risk. The University is not responsible for any difficulties that may occur in transmission or access of email. And any such problems will not absolve students of their responsibility to know and comply with the official communications sent to their University email account.

If you are unsure of your University email, please contact Information Technology at 770-720-5555 or it-department@reinhardt.edu. New students, please check your personal email listed on your Admissions Application until you receive a Reinhardt University email address.

Enrollment Status

Financial Aid eligibility is partly determined by a student's enrollment status. During advisement and registration, it is important to review your class schedule to ensure that registration requirements have been met for financial aid. Students must be enrolled over the entire 16-week semester. This can be achieved by taking full session courses or a combination of courses offered in Session 1 and Session 2 as a full-time or part-time student. Registration in only Session 1 or only Session 2 does not meet financial aid registration requirements.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (1974) protects the privacy of student records. Under the Act, students may inspect and review their educational records, may seek to amend those records, and may limit disclosure of information from those records. Access to student's records is strictly limited. Students may complete a Student Waiver Form of FERPA Rights for Financial Aid Only form to allow the Student Financial Aid Office to release financial information to those named on the form. Students may obtain the FERPA Waiver online.

Repeated Coursework

New federal regulations may prohibit a students financial aid eligibility when completing repeated coursework. Students repeating coursework are strongly encouraged to check with their Financial Aid Counselor for financial aid eligibility. Repeated coursework that is considered to be passing may not be financial aid eligible.

If you desire to cancel your student loan, PLUS Loan, or Teach Grant, you must submit a written request to the Reinhardt University Financial Aid Office within 14 days from the date the loan funds credit to your university account. Your written request to cancel a federal loan may be submitted to the Student Financial Aid office by e-mail from your Reinhardt e-mail account, or as a handwritten, typed, or printed statement bearing an original signature submitted by mail, in person, or by fax. Once you have requested any part of the federal loan to be canceled, please pay any outstanding balance to the Business Office immediately.

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires colleges and universities to define and enforce standards of satisfactory academic progress for all students receiving federal assistance. The financial aid definition of satisfactory academic progress differs somewhat from standards for academics as stated in the catalog. All full- and part-time students receiving federal financial aid must be in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress. These standards, defined below, must also be met for students to receive state aid. Satisfactory academic progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the Registrar and Director of Student Financial Aid. At the end of each semester, students will be evaluated and notified if they are not meeting SAP requirements. The first semester a student does not meet SAP requirements the student is placed on Financial Aid Warning. At the end of the following semester, if a student is still not meeting SAP requirements, the student is then placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Students on Financial Aid Suspension are not eligible for any financial aid until they are meeting SAP requirements or until an appeal is approved. SAP appeals are submitted and reviewed by the Appeals Committee. A student whose appeal is approved will then be placed on Financial Aid Probation. To be eligible to continue receiving federal and state aid, a student must maintain the grade-point averages (GPA) shown below:

hours attempted

minimum GPA

0-15

1.5

16-30

1.6

31-45

1.7

46+

2.0

The maximum time for completion of degree requirements for students receiving aid is one and one-half times the length of the degree program. Baccalaureate programs must be completed in 12 semesters. Associate degree programs must be completed in six semesters. A student who does not meet these criteria will not be allowed to receive further federal or state aid until the student's cumulative performance at Reinhardt University meets or exceeds these standards when reviewed at the end of the following semester checkpoint. Students who receive a semester with all grades of F maybe automatically placed on Financial Aid Suspension after review with the Registrar.